Zoonotic & Vector-Borne Diseases

A phase 3 trial of an investigational Lyme disease vaccine from Pfizer Inc. and Valneva SE demonstrated more than 70% efficacy, signaling potential progress toward the first approved human vaccine for the disease. Pfizer is planning to move forward with regulatory submissions for potential approval.

A phase 3 clinical trial found the Butantan-DV tetravalent dengue vaccine provided 80.5% protection against severe dengue with warning signs over 5 years and prevented hospitalizations among vaccinated participants.

A 6-year study in Liberia shows that Lassa fever is frequently missed in febrile patients, leading to preventable deaths and underscoring the urgent need for earlier diagnosis and improved testing.

Valneva has voluntarily withdrawn its US regulatory applications for its chikungunya vaccine, IXCHIQ, after the FDA suspended the license and placed the program on clinical hold pending investigation of a newly reported serious adverse event.

Jill Morgan, RN, BSN, reviews this significant part of clinical care and how personal protective equipment (PPE) is essential to protecting healthcare workers.

In the second installment of this 2-part article on the WHO 2025 World Malaria Report, the authors point out the positive trends in the scaling up of prevention efforts with new-generation anti-mosquito netting, vaccines and periodic chemoprevention.

The WHO 2025 World Malaria Report adds several countries to those certified as malaria free, while recognizing spread of antimalarial drug resistance.

Gavin Harris, MD, discusses his experience working in outbreak environments where there is high-consequence infectious disease (HCID) and how it is important to establish buy-in from the local populations and some of the important elements of what you need to leave behind when an outbreak is declared over.

Emory's Gavin Harris, MD, talks about taking care of patients with high-consequence infectious diseases, and considerations for not only their care, but their families. He also discusses working with other healthcare facilities around COVID-19 care and educating them through Emory's ECHO program on new and existing threats.

Andrew Handel, MD, talks about transmission, differential diagnosis, treatment, and protection against it.

NYU Langone’s Angelica Cifuentes Kottkamp, MD, continues our Media Day discussion around these illnesses and how in New York City, clinicians need to be prepared to decipher in differential diagnosis for these potential diseases.

A healthy New Jersey man died from the allergy after eating red meat. Results from a blood sample collected post mortem found that he had been sensitized to the α-gal sugar, which is found in mammals. The blood sample results indicated the man had an extreme reaction, in line with what is seen in fatal anaphylaxis.

Despite a 2018 American Academy of Pediatrics clinical update that recommends use of postexposure prophylaxis for prevention of the tick-borne disease in children younger than 8 years, Wesley Kufel, PharmD, BCPS, BCIDP, FCCP, FIDSA, points out many clinicians are unaware of this. He also discusses its efficacy at preventing the disease in this patient population.

Episode 2, Part 4, Robert Bransfield, MD, connects neural circuits, inflammatory responses to infection, and impulsivity in violent behavior.

Bordetella bronchiseptica is a rare human respiratory pathogen that can be initially confused for Bordetella pertussis, leading to potentially inadequate treatment. This article reviews the organism and recent literature on the successful treatment of B bronchiseptica.

TNX-4800 targets OspA to block Borrelia transmission; positive phase 1 data reported and an adaptive phase 2/3 study is planned.

Daniela Weiskopf, PhD, of the La Jolla Institute for Immunology, discusses her research in this area including the unique findings and pathways for therapeutics.

CDC’s recent ArboNET snapshot shows widespread human and non-human activity, preliminary totals subject to change, and no lineage reporting on the dashboard.

In the second interview segment with leaders from UNC's Special Pathogen Center, they discuss what it is like to be in the field during an outbreak caring for patients with high-consequence infectious diseases, and offer insights on how well prepared the US is for these situations.

Jonathan Parr, MD, MPH, discusses his research about this deadly and burdensome disease and how he and his team identify these parasitic strains with a combination of epidemiologic field work and the latest laboratory technology.

CDC encourages travelers to take enhanced precautions, get vaccinated, and prevent mosquito bites in affected areas, with special warnings for pregnant individuals.

Regulators cite four new serious adverse event reports, halting US distribution while global access efforts continue.

ECDC warns climate shifts are driving longer mosquito seasons and expanding disease transmission, calling for stronger surveillance, vector control, and clinician preparedness.

Morris County resident was infected despite no recent travel; risk to public remains low, officials say.

Pediatric infectious disease expert Sharon Nachman, MD, explains how to identify symptoms, assess travel risk, and prevent mosquito-borne illness in kids.